Student and amateur CubeSat news roundup – March.6.2020

A sampling of recent articles, press releases, etc. related to student and amateur CubeSat / SmallSat projects and programs (find previous smallsat roundups here):

** Killick-1 CubeSat is a undergrad and grad engineering student project at Memorial University in Newfoundland, Canada. The satellite will measure the thicknesses of sheet ices. ‘Launch’ forth: Students designing and building small satellite to collect big data – MUN Gazette

Since the project was announced in 2018, the team has worked on the conceptual design and definition of the cubesat’s mission. They moved on to the design and building phases in the fall of 2019.

When the cubesat is completed in 2022, it will be launched from the International Space Station – something the team is very excited about.

“We have our very own slot to go into space,” said Mr. Power. “That is very cool and exciting.”

When the satellite is launched into space, it will orbit 400 kilometres above Earth and use global navigation satellite system reflectometry to collect sea ice, waves and wind data.

This involves receiving direct and reflected signals from GPS satellites to measure geophysical features of the ocean such as temperature, salinity and wave height.

** Students at Fryeburg Academy, a private high school in Maine, will build a payload for MESAT-1, a CubeSat project supported by the Maine Space Grant Consortium and recently selected by NASA for a ride to orbit (see previous Smallsat Roundup) : NASA Selects MESAT1 Satellite with Fryeburg Academy’s CubeSat Experiment – Fryeburg Academy

Fryeburg Academy is pleased to announce its proposed CubeSat experiment, chosen by the Maine Space Grant Consortium last fall, will launch on the MESAT1 satellite—the very first satellite from the State of Maine. It’s one of 18 small research satellites selected by NASA to carry auxiliary payloads into space between 2021–23, and is part of NASA’s CubeSat Launch Initiative that provides opportunities for nanosatellite science and technology payloads built by universities, schools, and nonprofit organizations to rideshare on space launches.

“We began this venture last year with the formation of our Space Raiders club and working with CubeSat simulators,” says FA’s science teacher Dr. Warren Ziegler. “Since then, we’ve partnered with UMaine Orno and The Wells Estuarine Research Reserve and other partners to leverage their resources and knowledge on our chosen experiment that determines water quality and biological markers through imaging coastal estuaries.”

Ziegler and his club will work with Dr. Ali Abedi from UMaine Orno to assemble the CubeSat satellite experiment— aptly named IMAGER— and Dr. Jason Goldstein who leads the Wells Estuarine Research Reserve in Maine. “Our contributions thus far for the project are the remote sensing and spacecraft attitude control sequences that allow the CubeSat to be controlled inflight,” continues Ziegler. “ The goal is to develop a remote sensing tool by modifying a digital camera to image shallow, coastal waters to distinguish water quality properties such as turbidity and phytoplankton concentration.”

See also:

** AcubeSAT – Physical Architecture – A.S.A.T.

The Aristotle Space & Aeronautics Team (ASAT) is composed of students from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. ASAT is developing a 3U CubeSat to conduct a biological experiment that investigates molecular mechanisms that are affected by the space conditions. In particular, they will probe the dynamic regulation of gene expression of eukaryotic cells in Low Earth Orbit, using advances in Synthetic Biology and micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS).

** CSUM projects – Centre spatial universitaire

In France, the CSUM is the leader in the development of student nanosatellites. We are also a European center of reference devoted to bringing together equipment and skills for the development, production, testing and operation of nanosatellites. These projects involve student interns and encourage regional economic development.

The MTCube underwent vibration and other tests by ExoLaunch before its launch in July 2019. Credtis: CSUM

(Item via nanosat.eth (@myfirstsatellit) / Twitter.)

** AMSAT news on student and amateur CubeSat/smallsat projects: ANS-061 AMSAT News Service Special Bulletin

Upcoming SpaceX CRS-20 Launch
FO-29 Operational Schedule
Georgia Institute of Technology GT-1 To Feature Amateur Radio Robot Operation
K7UAZ Radio Club Helps Prepare Satellite Radio Station for Space Camp at Biosphere 2
New QO-100 Band Plan Announced
ARISS News
Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events
Upcoming Satellite Operations
Satellite Shorts from All Over

General CubeSat/SmallSat info:

** Students [sent] homemade satellite into space | Nine News Australia – About the Australis OSCAR 5 amateur satellite built by a group of Melbourne university students and launched into orbit in January 1970.